Travel Insurance for
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
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Travel Insurance for Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
For travellers with a pre-existing medical condition, travel insurance can be harder to find and premiums can be higher. A number of standard insurers offer pre-existing condition travel insurance for several common medical conditions. If you have a more complex medical issue to insure, there are some travel insurance providers who specialise in this type of cover, so you can still get the protection you need when you travel, whatever your age, health, and destination. Use the FREE comparison table above to compare pre-existing condition travel insurance and get quotes.
What counts as a pre-existing medical condition?
In terms of buying travel insurance, a pre existing medical condition is one which was diagnosed before the policy was taken out – for example, a chronic illness. Some of the conditions that might require specialist insurance include:
- Heart conditions
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Asthma
- HIV
- Mental health conditions
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Osteoarthritis
- Epilepsy
What does pre-existing medical condition travel insurance cover?
A good quality pre-existing medical condition policy should cover things like:
- Medical expenses if you get ill or injured abroad
- Repatriation if you are unable to travel on your pre-arranged transport
- Cancellation cover – you could claim back your hotel and transportation costs if you are forced to cancel your trip
- Cover for your luggage, personal possessions and money
- Most travel insurance policies offer a 24 hour helpline providing advice and support in an emergency
Some pre-existing travel insurance policies also offer benefits such as:
- Cover for emergency replacement of prescription medicines
- Cover for a replacement carer
- Protection for any mobility equipment you may be taking on holiday with you, such as wheelchairs
Compare and save on pre-existing medical condition travel insurance
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, travel insurance may be slightly harder to obtain and slightly more expensive. However, medical condition travel insurance is available, it just takes a little shopping around to find the best deal. Our free travel insurance comparison tables will help you find medical condition travel insurance quotes. You can:
- Compare different levels of cover
- Check out online discounts
- Apply online quickly and easily
Having a medical condition shouldn’t stop you from travelling wherever you want. As long as you prepare for your trip properly and make sure you have adequate holiday medical insurance, you will minimise any potential problems, leaving you to enjoy your trip.
We make it easier to find pre-existing condition travel insurance that’s right for you with our free comparison service – check out the table above to compare some of the pre-existing condition travel insurance deals on the market.
Why do I need travel insurance?
Why do I need travel insurance?
It’s very easy to get so caught up in planning your trip that you neglect to buy travel insurance – or just buy the first no-frills policy you can find, which isn’t much better. After all, none of us like to think about something going wrong on our travels. But here are few good reasons why you should always take the time to buy an appropriate travel insurance policy before you set foot on a plane:
- Your flights could be delayed or cancelled: This may not be a life-or-death situation, but it’s still a major irritation – no one wants to have to hang around an airport for longer than is absolutely necessary. Many policies will compensate you if your flight is delayed for a certain length of time, or if it’s cancelled altogether.
- You could become ill and need to go to hospital: Living in the UK with the benefit of NHS treatment, it’s easy to forget that much of the world’s healthcare systems operate on a pay-as-you-go premise – so if you need hospital treatment while on holiday and you don’t have adequate travel insurance, you could find yourself being discharged with a very large bill to pay. For example, if you break your leg while on holiday in the USA, your treatment could cost you a small fortune.
- You could have an accident: If you’re planning on going skiing, snorkelling or skydiving, remember that many standard insurance policies won’t pay out for accidents that occur while taking part in ‘high-risk’ activities like those mentioned above. You will usually need to buy extra cover for these kinds of activities.
- You might need to cancel your trip at short notice: If a family emergency or illness arises just before you’re scheduled to depart, you could stand to lose a lot of money if you need to cancel or postpone your journey. Check that your insurance provider covers you for as wide a range of cancellation reasons as possible.
- Your possessions might get stolen: From major thefts to pickpockets in tourist hotspots, the risk of your money or belongings getting taken is a very good reason to ensure you’ve got the cover you need before you leave.
- Your baggage might get lost or damaged in transit: Bags ended up in Tunisia rather than Toronto? Or has your suitcase arrived off the plane looking decidedly worse for wear thanks to careless handling in transit? A comprehensive travel insurance policy may mean you’ll be covered for these situations.
What’s covered by travel insurance?
What’s covered by travel insurance?
The Foreign Travel Commission advises taking out a travel insurance policy that offers:
- Medical and health cover for an injury or sudden illness abroad – with a minimum of £2m
- 24-hour emergency service and assistance – useful if you get stranded
- Personal liability cover – in case you damage something or injure someone and are sued
- Lost/stolen possessions cover – look for a policy that covers both scenarios
- Cancellation and curtailment cover – essential if you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to an unforeseen emergency at home
- Terrorism – this is now covered by the majority of travel insurance policies, but check before you buy
What’s not usually covered by travel insurance?
What’s not usually covered by travel insurance?
The following are usually excluded from standard travel insurance policies:
- Incidents related to drink or drugs
- Incidents in which you have not taken reasonable care of your belongings – in the eyes of the insurance provider, you have a responsibility to do your best to ensure the security of your possessions or you won’t be covered
Types of travel insurance
Types of travel insurance
- Single trip – This will cover you for one trip, and is most cost-effective if you’re only planning on going away less than 2-3 times in a year.
- Annual multi-trip – If you’re a frequent traveller, annual cover may be more cost-effective. This will usually cover you for an unlimited number of trips in a year, up to a maximum duration per trip (usually around a month)
- Gap year/backpacker travel insurance – If you’re travelling for between three months and a year, you are likely to need specialist backpacker or gap year insurance, which is offered by many providers.
- Winter Sports/Hazardous activities cover – You’ll need to take out extra cover for activities that are commonly excluded from standard policies – if you’re going skiing, bungee jumping or mountaineering, look for a policy that covers hazardous activities.
- Specialist cover – if you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over a certain age, you’ll often need to find a specialist travel insurance provider. Cover may be more expensive than standard because you’re deemed a higher risk by the insurance company.